Australia is also known as the land down under, made famous by the song by “Men At Work”. Beer does flow and men chunder. Beer does flow freely but Australia is also well known for its fine wine and good food. Besides the fine gourmet meals, Australia has a lot to offer to visitors from all over the world.

Australia is the sixth largest country in the world. It is almost a continent on its own and a giant island. It has only about two people per square kilometer, the lowest population density in the world. Australia has over 10000 beaches, more than any country in the world. There are over 40 million kangaroos in Australia, the most well known animal unique to Australia. The longest stretch of straight railway track is 478 km in Western Australia.

Flying to Australia is easy. There are now about 30 airlines flying regularly from UK to Australia. One of the best times for cheap air tickets is early in the year. However do look out for special last minute offers which happen during all year round. You can also stop over in most Asian countries like Singapore, Japan or Thailand. Perth, Darwin, Brisbane, Adelaide, Cairns and Hobart have international airport terminals while Sydney and Melbourne airport enjoyed the most number of visitors.

Australia second biggest state is Queensland which is 4 times the size of Japan, otherwise known as the Sunshine State. It is home to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns. The oldest state in Australia is New South Wales. That is where the capital Sydney is. Do not miss its fantastic harbor, the Harbor Bridge, the famous Sydney Opera House and the Bondi Beach. Tasmania, an island, is the smallest city in Australia. It is surrounded with beautiful mountain landscapes. More than 40 percent of the island is a World Heritage Area with national parks and marine reserves.

Do not miss the scenic drive along the Great Ocean Road if you are in Victoria. The Northern Territory is about 3 times the size of France which includes breathtaking landscapes and wonders including the beautiful National Parks such as Uluru-Kata Tjuta where the famous Ayers Rock is.

South Australia, where Adelaide is situated, is famed for its laid back atmosphere, great wine from the Barossa valley regions and its beautiful coastline. Western Australia includes Perth, a charming seaside capital. Its population is only one and a half million people. However it has some of Australia’s and the worlds more remote and awe inspiring landscapes.

Walk gorgeous beaches and gaze at the dramatic cliffs over Bronte Beach in the summer months; sample the delicious cuisine and try the fruits of Australia’s famed wine country in the fall; winter brings everything from skiing and snowboarding to diving and snorkeling; in spring, watch Australia bloom with the best nature and culture the country has to offer. When is the best time to travel to Australia? Anytime. There is something to see, do, and experience no matter when you go. A better question may be “when is the best time for me?” Let’s see.

Australia is in the southern hemisphere, so you will find northern winters transform into hot summers. Here, the north is hotter, while the south is cooler. You may find temperatures in the 50s in south while it is thirty degrees warmer in the north. Despite this, much of Australia is temperate year-round. Travelers should generally be aware of a few factors which will influence vacation plans:

* The wet season runs from November through April. Here you will find heavy rains and very high humidity. During this time, most of Western Australia is not as welcoming in terms of weather, though you’ll always find the Australian people very welcoming.
* The dry season with its much lower humidity levels is more popular with tourists, and it runs from May through October. A beautiful time to see Australia.
* The summer months (our winter months) are very hot, but the south of Australia, including New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and the city of Perth, are more temperate and provide a pleasant escape for those from snowy climes.
* Crowds grow thick from Boxing Day (December 26) to the end of January. This is when Australians take vacation. Beaches are packed, and seaside resorts and hotels are booked and expensive. You will find airfare to be at its highest. While the rates creep down over February and March, they spike again during Easter.
* There is a “value” travel season during mid-April to late August. You will find lower airfares and accommodations. The weather will be gorgeous for trips to the beach or visits to the Outback.
* If you want to visit Sydney and/or Melbourne, opt for December through April for inexpensive accommodations and thin crowds.

As you can see, you must balance cost with weather and crowds, and decide what is most important to you. Those who want to bake in the sun will love the summer months even if they are packed onto a beach (full of friendly Aussies, not too bad!). Those who want peace may like the quiet of Melbourne or Sydney in December. Higher humidity is the trade-off for lower prices. Above all, remember that there is no wrong time to go to Australia.

From Kakadu National Park to Darwin extends an area known as the ‘top end’ of Australia. It is where warm weather, stunning contrasting outback terrain and delicate vegetation and unique fauna merge, to provide an eco-system vacant of modern society, making it another of the great places to stay in Australia.

Water-lilies drift on billabongs, flocks of magpie geese and cockatoos hang suspended in thermal currents, with caves and rock faces embellished in ancient aboriginal art becoming artefacts from an age passed.

Kakadu – owned by the Aboriginal people – covers approximately 20,000 square kilometres of some of Australia’s most untamed and alluring wilderness. Scattered with rainforest alcoves, forest swamps and dwarf scrubland, Kakadu is home to some of Australia’s most exclusive and rare animal species. However, caution must be taken when exploring this magnificent expanse because the crocodiles that also live here are occasionally prone to chewing on the odd foolish tourist who doesn’t follow their tour guide’s safety instructions!

Ignorant Tourists beware!

Climate ranges from about 19 degrees celsius in July (dry-season) and up to a maximum of about 30 degrees, with a minimum of 25 degrees in January (wet-season) and up to 32 degrees maximum.

Two of the easiest-to-get-to rock-art sites are Ubirr and Nourlangie Rock, with many of the paintings being over 60,000 years old. Luxury travel in the top end is via 4WD with some of the most stunning sites to be seen by pre-arranged and guided safari tours.

Several of the more well known ones are:

• Guliyambi East Alligator River Cruises – which show the stark contrast of the landscape and denotes the scenic river setting
• Magela Cultural and Heritage Tour – which journeys across isolated and restricted areas and allows you to experience aboriginal culture at its rawest
• Dreamtime Safaris – Stay with the Tablon tribe as they demonstrate their way of life in an exclusive luxury camp setting which provides alternative accommodation

Should you be a collector of rare Aboriginal art, then several art galleries that you can not afford to miss while in Darwin are Aboriginal Fine Arts, Cultural Images, Ampiji, and Indigenous Creations, while Kakadu has The Marrwuddi Gallery and Warradjan Cultural Centre.

Luxury accommodation in the top end includes a tree-top wilderness retreat in the tropical rainforests on the shore of Seven Spirit Bay and the beachside resort of Skycity in Darwin.